Fire pit cover

Abstract

A cover particularly adapted to extend over outdoor recreational fire pits when not in use includes a circular perforated center plate. Attached to an outer edge of this center plate is an angle-shaped rim having a downward extending vertical flange. Then, attached to a bottom side of the center plate is a centering ring. For use, a pair of spaced apart handles attached to a top side of the center plate may be used to remove the cover so that a fire may be built in the pit and then used to replaced the cover after pit use. In this latter case, the cover is positioned over the pit so that the centering ring extends into the pit next to a vertical sidewall of the pit. Any inadvertent cover movement is inhibited by an interference fit between the cover ring and the pit sidewall.

1. A fire pit cover comprising:
 a center plate having openings that allow air to flow into a fire pit with said cover in place over said pit, 
 a downward extending rim immovably attached to a peripheral edge of said center plate, said rim having a downward extending bottom edge prepared to seat on a ledge of said fire pit and position said center plate above said ledge, 
 centering means immovably attached to said center plate inward from said rim and extending below a bottom side of said center plate, said means having an outer side prepared to fit loosely next to a wall of said fire pit and form an interference fit with said pit wall to inhibit inadvertent lateral movement of said cover when said cover is in place over said pit, and 
 handle means carried by said cover to facilitate movement of said cover, 
 wherein using said handle means, said cover may be readily removed from said fire pit or positioned over said fire pit. 
 
     
     
       2. A cover as defined by  claim 1  and further characterized by,
 said centering means comprising a ring having a bottom edge that extends below a bottom edge of said rim, 
 wherein said ring inhibits lateral movement of an installed fire pit cover. 
 
     
     
       3. A cover as defined by  claim 1  and further characterized by,
 said center plate openings having a combined area equaling proximately equal 60 percent of an area of said center plate, 
 wherein said openings allow said plate to have a reduced weight while said centering means enhances the structural integrity of said center plate. 
 
     
     
       4. A cover as defined by  claim 1  and further characterized by,
 said rim having an angle-like shape including a horizontal flange having a bottom surface affixed to a top side of said center plate and a vertical flange providing said rim bottom edge prepared to engage said fire pit ledge, 
 wherein as said rim flange bottom edge engages said fire pit ledge, said center plate is positioned sufficiently above said ledge to inhibit entrapped debris ledge discoloration, and said centering means enhances cover placement, remains inside and next to said fire pit wall to inhibit cover lateral movement, adds structural strength to said center plate, and facilitates reduced center plate weight. 
 
     
     
       5. A fire pit cover particularly adapted to extend over a fire pit when said pit is not in use, said cover comprising:
 a circular center plate made of a light weight perforated-like material, 
 an angle-shaped rim connecting with a peripheral edge of said center plate, said rim defined by a horizontal flange having a bottom surface joined to a top side of said center plate and a vertical flange having a bottom edge prepared to engage a top surface of a ledge of said fire pit to hold said center plate above said ledge, 
 a centering and reinforcing ring immovably attached to a bottom side of said center plate and inwardly offset from said rim, said ring having an outer side prepared to fit loosely next to a sidewall of a chamber of said fire pit and a bottom edge to extend below said ledge top surface as said rim vertical flange bottom edge engages said pit ledge, and 
 a pair of spaced apart handles attached to said cover proximate said cover rim, 
 wherein, with said cover in place over said fire pit, said centering ring forms a non directional interference fit with said pit sidewall to inhibit an inadvertent lateral uncovering movement of said cover as said rim vertical flange bottom edge minimally engages said pit ledge.